Space medicine is a scientific discipline that studies the effect of various factors of space flight (overloads, weightlessness, vibrations, radiation, isolation, etc.) on the human body and its performance. It is part of a broader field of science, space biology, that develops the biomedical problems of space flight.
Space Medicine recruits astronaut candidates, prepares them for space travel, exercises medical control over space travel, creates robust medical and technical systems that allow astronauts to live and work productively in space shuttle cabs, etc.
The astronauts' successful flights on spacecraft have shown how brilliantly this young science has passed the scientific and practical exam. At the same time, they set a number of new tasks for her. This includes, in particular, the development of methods for the selection and training of astronauts-researchers, and in particular methods of manning the crews of multifamily spacecraft, the study of the psychophysiological capabilities of man to control the spacecraft, its systems and research equipment for a long-haul flight, etc. For more on space biological research, see.
Space biology
Space psychology is a scientific discipline that studies issues related to the psychological training, training and selection of astronauts, their mode of work and rest, improving their performance and operational vigilance, etc. This science is still very young, it is just getting back on its feet. But she has a great future. Already, "not far off" man's flight to other planets - neighbors of the Earth.
That is why the problem of mental reactions and human condition becomes especially important in the conditions of long space flight to other planets and during their stay on their surface.
After all, the nature of these reactions and the state of man are determined by the specific conditions of space travel: the isolation of man in a small space, changing its spatial orientation, weightlessness, reducing the number and intensity of nerve impulse, a sense of novelty and danger, a sense of separation from the Earth and so on. All this led to the birth of such a science as space psychology.
For flight into space at this stage is a funeral man who has high positive individual psychological characteristics. It is important to determine in advance the capabilities of a candidate for astronauts, to predict how he will tolerate extreme flight factors, sudden stimuli, and obstacles. It is necessary to study also the individual qualities of future astronauts, such as spatial courage, reactions to the novelty of the situation, the ability to continue working in difficult conditions, etc.
Psychological selection is conducted by modeling the conditions of space flight. For this purpose, in particular, the use of a chamber, a court chamber, a thermal chamber, a centrifuge and the like. It turns out that as the speed and altitude of flight increase, the ability of a person to navigate in the surrounding space becomes of great importance.
Spatial tension - so-called scientists the difficulties and efforts that arise in humans in connection with the stay, movement, and action in space, and accordingly proposed methods for its removal or reduction.
Studies have shown that extreme psychological factors cause extreme flight factors in astronauts. Reactions to the novelty of the situation, to different environmental changes, to the danger of flight are expressed in neuro-emotional arousal and significant functional shifts that can lead to complications. In particular, it is known that during the takeoff and descent of astronauts the rate of breathing and heart rate increases sharply. And here space psychology makes its recommendations for self-regulation of emotional state and overcoming of the mentioned tension.
Also important is the problem of optimal modes of work, active rest and sleep for the long flight. After all, astronauts need to cultivate a "sense of time" and a certain working rhythm.
This is achieved by training astronauts on Earth in conditions as close to space as possible. And the words of astronauts "well-being", "flight goes well" - the best recognition of the merits of space psychology. She predicted almost everything on Earth, successfully mimicking the conditions of space flight.